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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited the Tennessee Valley Authority for inadequate flood protection at two of its nuclear plants. TVA's probable maximum flooding plans for its Watts Bar and Sequoyah facilities in Tennessee failed to take into account the possible failure of earthen dams, the NRC said. The company had previously implemented interim measures to protect the facilities in the event of dam failure. "We will continue to work cooperatively with the NRC in developing plans to be prepared for these highly unlikely events," TVA spokesman Michael Bradley said.

Related Summaries

The external flooding provisions at Duke Energy's Oconee nuclear plant in South Carolina would protect the plant in the event of a Lake Jocasee dam failure, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Duke Energy has constructed new or improved flood walls and relocated power lines and equipment.

The Tennessee Valley Authority will have to pay a $70,000 fine due to violations discovered at the company's Sequoyah nuclear plant three years ago. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission assessed the fine after it determined that TVA contract workers failed to maintain standard fire watches at the Tennessee plant and falsified records to cover up the mistake. TVA has since fired the employees responsible and has improved equipment and procedures to prevent a repeat of the mistake.

The Tennessee Valley Authority needs to do more to ensure a long-term improvement in the safety culture of its Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a preliminary report after an inspection. "TVA agrees with the NRC assessment that we have additional work to reach and sustain excellence," said Preston Swafford, TVA's nuclear operations chief. The full inspection report is expected to be released next month.

The Tennessee Valley Authority's Sequoyah nuclear plant in Tennessee has received a passing safety grade from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This comes after unplanned shutdowns and flooding violations at the plant prompted heightened scrutiny from the NRC in 2012. "The NRC determined that overall, Sequoyah Units 1 and 2 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives," the agency said.

An investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that a Tennessee Valley Authority security employee had lied on an inventory report at the Sequoyah nuclear plant. As part of a settlement in the case, TVA must upgrade procedures at three sites.